Saints ready to go after fast-paced AJHL camp

Saints ready to go after fast-paced AJHL camp

Saints veterans, free agent signings and hopefuls alike competed for their spots on the 2019-20 roster from this past weekend, concluding with a blue and white split squad game. general manager Rob Sklaruk likes what he sees so far.

Training camp is over and the Spruce Grove Saints setting their sights on Alberta Junior Hockey League competition.

Saints veterans, free agent signings and hopefuls alike competed for their spots on the 2019-20 roster from this past weekend, concluding with a blue and white split squad game. general manager Rob Sklaruk likes what he sees so far.

“We’ve got 40 guys here competing for roster spots. We’re also looking ahead to the future, we’ve got a lot of talented 2003 born kids here, but our vets are good this year,” said Rob Sklaruk.

The camp concluded with the annual Team Blue vs. Team White intra-squad game at the Grant Fuhr Arena on Monday. Team Blue picked up a decisive 5-1 victory, with goals from 17-year-old Carter Myrol, Sam Vincent, Seth Fyten, and a pair from Nathan Bohmer.Evan Arnold scored the lone goal for team white.

“I’m definitely excited to hit someone that isn’t my teammate. Sometimes it can be hard to bring full energy out there. You want to, but you don’t want to hurt any of your teammates. Tomorrow the tempo and intensity are going to go way up now that we finally get to play against an opposing team,” said forward Nick Leyer.

They got their wish the next night with during squad games against the Drayton Valley Thunder on Tuesday. Spruce Grove defeated Drayton Valley 4-0 and 6-5.

This year’s camp had around 40 participants, and had a healthy mix of returning players and newcomers to the system.

Veterans Brett Trentham, Fyten, Bruce MacGregor, Cole Basnett, Matthew Rempe, Ryan Peckford, Stanley Cooley, and Leyer all dressed in the Blue and White Game, along with Cameron Chin, Ryan Harker and Jaxsen Wyatt on the back-end. Other key returnees, forwards Jordan Biro, and Cam Mitchell, along with goaltender Matthew Davis were are away in Sochi, Russia competing for the Junior Club World Cup from Aug. 23-31.

With the returnees, and other players the coaching staff already has slotted for the roster, Sklaruk said players are competing for a total of six or seven open roster spots.

“It’s been a good camp. It’s been high-paced and high-tempo. Our vets have looked really good, but some of these young guys out here are looking good too,” said Chin.

The Saints continued their pre-season campaign against the Lloydminster Bobcats on Wednesday. Results were unavailable at press time. Up next, they will face off against the Bobcats at home, on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m., before closing out the preseason with back-to-back games against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Sept. 6-7.